Flying-machine.



M. DINGFELDER.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLIUATION mum D30. 2, 1909.

Patented May 9,1911,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. DINGFELDBR.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. 1909.

Patente d May 9, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ion 9 Max DING-FELDER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented m 9,1911.

Application filed December 2, 1909. Serial No. 530,926.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX DINGFEL'DER, a

, citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the countyof \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulFlying-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the mono-plane class, andthe object of my improvements is to provide aflying machine wliich shallbe easily controlled and in which the planes shall have great stiflnessfor the weight of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the entire machine.Fig. 2 is a front and Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the machine. Figs. 4,5.and 6.are details of the steering device. of the planes.

Similar reference characters refer parts throughout the several views.

The machine shown has at its forward end the horizontal rudder 1,adjustable for causing the front of the machine to turn up or down, andat its rear end the vertical rudder 2; the auxiliary or leveling planes3 and 4 to cause the machine to dip laterally when turning, the mainplane 5, the engine 6, the screw 7, and a frame to support and connectthe various parts as well as the necessary controlling devices. Whileall the necessary bnacing devices may be employed, none are shown, asthey may be inserted wherever found desirable.

The body of the machine is but partially to like shown, and consists ofthe uprights l1, and

' transverse bars 12 of the-central. cage, and

the main frames 9 and 10. These main frames are parallel to each otherat the middle of the machine and are bent toward their ends, the upperand lower frames on each side meeting each other at their forward endswhile the two upper frames meet at their rear ends and the two lowerframes are similarly bent to also meet at their rear I ends. The frontends of the frames on one side are parallel to those on the other side,

while the rear end of each upper frame is parallel to the lower frame onthe same side.

The front ends of the frames carry bearings for the horizontal rudder'l,while the rear ends carry bearings for the vertical rudder 2. I

.The planes and rudders may all be built up in a similar manner, withlongitudinal Figs. and 8 are details freely on the tube.

and cross supports. Referring to Figs. 1, 7 and 8, it willbe observedthat the main plane has longitudinal frames 13 and transverse ribs 14.The transverse ribs are in pairs, one above and the other below thecanvas or other fabric 15. The frames 13 are also formed in two partsextending above and below the pairs of transverse ribs. Thehalves of theribsand frames are secured together in any. desirable manner, and theends of the frames may be bent and joined at the ends of the plane.

The main plane 5 may be bent or curved to the desired proper formasshown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7. The frames 13 connect to the uprights 11and thus form the upper trans verse bars of the central cage. -Therearends of the ribs 14 may project rearwardly from the rear frame 13 asshownin Figs. 1

and 8. i The course of the flying machine is controlled by thehorizontal rudder 1, the inter- Ymediate auxiliary planes 3' and 4, andthe vertical rudder 2. It is desirable that these rudders and planesshould all be under the direct control of the operator at all times,

without necessitating the moving of, his

hands. The mechanism illustrated enables a the operator to control thevarious planes by means of the wheel 20, in the following describedmanner.

The inclined tube 21 has a bevel gear 22 at its lower end, which gearmeshes with the gear 23 on the sleeve 25 and the gear 24 on the sleeve26. The plane 3 is secured to the sleeve 25 and the plane 4 to thesleeve 26. The wheel 20 is slidable on the tube 21, which tube has a:slot 27 through which the pin 28, carried by the wheel 20, may slide upand down. The tube will therefore turn w th the wheel but the wheel mayslide At the outer ends ofthe sleeves 25 and 26 are the rope sheaves 29,which carry the ropes 30 which connect to the rudder 2. Wheels 31- onthe lower' frames 10 guide these ropes. If now the operator turnshiswheel 20 to the right, the sleeve 25 turns back and the sleeve 26turns forward, the plane 3 tips up and the plane 4 tips down, the-ropes30 Wind up on the 1 5 right and off on the left sheave 29, swinging therudder to the left, thus causing the ma"- chine to'turn-to the, leftwith the left wing" of the main plane depressed.

The sleeves 25 an'd26 are journaled on a no .cause the rod shaft 33supported by the frames 10 by any desirable proper bearings which havebeen omitted for the sake of clearness.

For the purpose of operating the horizon tal'rudder, 1, the followingdescribed con struction may be employed. The wheel 20 is slidable on thetube 21 as before stated. The wheel is revoluble on the rod 35, but thepin 28 enters the circumferential groove 36 in this rod so that anymovement of the Wheel longitudinally of the tube 21 will to move withthe wheel. A bracket 37, carried by the bottom of the cage, supports ashort shaft 38 on which is mounted a crank having three arms 39, 40 and41. The arm 39 has a slot in which is slidable a pin 42 carried by thelower. end of the rod" 35. rudder are two arms 43 and 44 which areconnected to thearms 4O and 41 by the was 45 and 46, which pass aroundthe wheels 47 7 By pulling up on the wheel 20, the rod 35 and arm 39move upward, while the arms 40 and 43 and wire 45 move rearwardly, andthe arms 41 and 44 and wire 46 move forwardly. The result of the upwardmovement of the wheel will be to tip the horizontal' rudderupwardly,causing the machine to turn up.

Swinging thewheel 20 and the tube 21 forward on the shafts 33 asian axiswill turn the auxiliary planes 3 and 4 downward, thus causing themachine 'to turn down, while swinging thewheel and tube back will cause-.the machine to turn up. As the pull of the planes 3 and 4 is below themain plane, the

force is not so effective in proportion as that of the front rudder 1.

The varidus parts of the machine may be of any desirable material, but Iprefer to form the ribs and frames of.rock-elm'. The

motor will preferably be supported in such "a manner that the shaft 47will be equal distances from the upper frames 9 and the lower frameslO.The seat 8 is preferably just above the shaft so ',that the operatorwill straddle the shaft and have the tube 21 between his knees. Theengine will -be. immediately'in'front of him so he can observe itsoperations atall times. The fuel may be stored in the tanks 48 justbelow the main plane. The rudders and planes may be Secured to thehorizontal .curved in any desired manner and reinforcements may beemployed wherever needed. The relative proportions of the planes andrudders may be modified to suit the conditions of service and thelocality where the machine is to be used. In a prairie country,

the planes 3 and 4 will be much smaller than where the machine is to beused in a rolling country. The planes 3 and 4 may be increased inproportion .to the main plane where quick maneuvering is desired. A flator slightly curved main plane would permit this-machine to forward.

Havin now explained my improvements, whatl c aim as my invention anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is s- 1. Tu a flying machine, thecombination of a body, a mainplane, auxiliary planes fly backward aswell as and rudders, the main plane being formed of a sheet of fabric,ribs on opposite sides of the fabric, and frames extending along the 7ends of ribs on both sides of the fabric, the

ribs and frames being secured together,

2.. In a flying machine, the combination of a frame, horizontal andvertical rudders carried thereby, auxiliary planes mounted transverselyto the machine and having their axes in line w1th each other, sleevesupon which the planes are mounted, a bevel gear on the'inner end of eachsleeve, an upwardly extending tube, a wheel at the upper end thereof, abevel gear at the lower end of the tube meshing with the gears on thesleeves, rope sheaves at the outer ends of the sleeves, and ropesextending from the sheaves to the vertical rudder, the turning of thewheel and tube swinging the planes in opposite directions andsimultaneously swinging the rudder.

3. A plane for flying machines comprising a sheet of fabric, ribs onopposite" sides of the fabric, and frames extending along at the ends ofthe ribs on both sides of the fabric, the ribs and frames being securedto- 'gether.

In testimony whereof I e. signed this ioo specification in the presenceof twosubscribing witnesses.

. MAX DINGFELDER. Witnesses:

. EDWARD N. PAGELSEN,

ELIZABETH M. BROWN.

